John Beane's Charity CIO

John Beane's Charity CIO, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation established in 2015 incorporating the historic endowment of John Beane's Charity, advances the Christian religion by supporting the United Reformed Church (URC) community and relieving need in Surrey. Rooted in a conservative, stewardship-driven ethos, it prioritises augmenting stipends for URC ministers—especially in Dorking and Guildford—extending to other URC or Congregational clergy, retired ministers, widows, and church charitable purposes (two-thirds of income), while dedicating one-third to welfare for individuals in financial hardship, distress, or poverty across the county. Its approach emphasises prudent endowment management, property stewardship, and enduring alignment with founding governance, funding clergy stipends, individual welfare grants, and select church activities rather than innovative projects.

Funding targets URC ministers, their dependants, Congregational churches, and Surrey residents in need, with grants to small local grassroots entities or individuals identified by trustees, not open applicants. Eligible entities are UK-registered charities strictly tied to URC/Congregational churches in Surrey; individuals must reside there. No income thresholds apply, but support favours small-scale beneficiaries within the administrative county—no funding outside Surrey or for non-Christian causes.

Grants typically range £100–£500 per individual (e.g., £60,000+ annually to 298 people in 2017), higher for church stipends; distributions occur annually via trustee meetings (financial year-end March), with no deadlines, forms, or unsolicited applications—awards follow internal schemes in consultation with local churches. Distinctively, its rigid beneficiary focus, rejection of broad appeals, and dual commitment to sustaining URC ministry while addressing local hardship set it apart, excluding projects, capital works, or non-local/non-URC efforts.